Furnace.



Patented Apr. 24, I900.- J. P. MOULTON.

F U R N A C E.

(Application filed Aug. 23, 1897.)

5 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

jizvezzFwr No. 648,359. Patented Apr. 24, I900.

J. P. MOULTUN.

FURNACE. (Application filed Aug. 23, 1897.) (No Model.) 5 Shuts-Sheet 2.

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No. 648,359. Patented Apr. 24, I900. J. P. MOULTON.

FURNACE.

(Application mad Aug. 23, 1897.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Shea! 3.

1 Patented Apr. 24, 1900, J. P. MOULTON.

F u n 1A0 E. (Application filed Aug. 23, 1897.)

(No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

No. 648,359. Patented-Apr, 24, I900.

- J. P. MOULTDN.

FURNACE.

' (Application filed. Aug. 23, 1897.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

V MW mi Nrrnn STATES ATENT JAMES PERRY MOULTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO D. S. LOW, OF SAME PLACE.

FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 648,359, dated April 24, 1900. Application filed August 23, 1897. Serial No. 649,186. (No modelh To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES PERRY MOULTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illi- 5 nois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Furnaces, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates more particularly to an improvement in furnaces for stationary I boilers, though certain features thereof may be applied readily to portable boilers of any description-as, for instance, to the boilers of locomotives.

The object of my invention is to provide means for regulating the draft and means for regulating and proportioning the air passing upward through the grate and inward laterally above the same and means for simultaneously operating the regulators and to provide the same with certain new and useful features, hereinafter more fully described, and brought out in the claims.

My invention consists in a damper located in the chimney for regulating the draft and dampers for controlling the passage of air into the furnace above the grate, combined with means for connecting the two dampers, whereby they are operated simultaneously and relatively adjusted.

It also consists in a baffle which extends over the front portion of the grate-bars,where the heat is the greatest.

It also consists in channel-irons placed in the side walls of the furnace and provided 3 5 with pipes or tubes formed integral therewith and projecting through said side walls, combined with a pipe provided with openings which correspond to the tubes extending. through the side walls,supporting-brackets.

upon which the pipes are supported, and collars secured to the pipes and closing the outer ends of the chambers in which the pipes are placed.

It still further consists in the arrangement and combination of parts, which will be more fullydescribed hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

the furnace; Fig. 6, a broken section taken at line 6 of Fig. 2 and showing the supplypipes through which steam is introduced to induce air-currents above the grate-surface; Figs. 7 and 8, sections taken on the corresponding lines of Fig. 6; Figs. 9 and 10, broken sections taken on the corresponding lines of Fig. 2 and showing a shutter-damper and the means for operating it, and Fig. 11 a broken plan section taken on line 11 of Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. 7

A represents a boiler-shell incased in a suit able inclosin g wall B and provided with boiler fiues O. The inclosing wall comprises the side walls B and B the arched covering 13 the front base portion 13, and the rear wall B The boiler-setting is provided with a suitable base, affording an ash-pit D, a vertical Wall D at the rear thereof, which, together with the front base portion Bflaifords supports for grate-bars if, a rearwardly and upwardly slanting bridge-wall D and a rearwardly and downwardly slanting rear base portion D Sections through the boiler and setting anywhere along these portions (either through the bridge-wall or rearbase portion) disclose a spaces between the inclosing wall and the boiler-shell, exposing the shell to the heated gases up as far as its horizontal diameter. The base-curve shown upon any of these sections is elliptical in its nature, and all these curves have their extremities in a horizontal plane containing said diameter and in lines parallel to the axis of the shell and at a distance s from the shell. It will be understood, however, that these curves may be continued above the horizontal diameter till they intersect with the shell, as shown by dotted lines, it being of importance only that the curve shall show an ever-increasipg dis t aggg frg the SH ell towara asiewfifitst portion, whe tlie'distance from t es e is gre ates t. in

the v'itiETaTWalTD""a'repassages E, leading to air-chambers E.

Each side wall is provided just above the grate-surface with a longitudinally-extending rectangular air-channel F,which is formed in the wall by building the wall about acast channel-bar F, provided at the web with a series of projecting tubes F which extend inwardly flush with the inner side of the wall. The angles of the channels extend outwardly, and upon the upper one are laid sections of reof refractory material, which may be perfo-' ratedin any suitable manner. Thedrawings show the arch as made up of slotted blocks of material, which are'self-supporting after the manner of a stone arch.

' Extending lengthwiseof; the air-passage F" is a steam-pipe I, (see Fig. 8,) which is provided with a series of small laterally-projectmg pipes 19, having minute openings, which register with the tubes F Each pipe is sup; ported on brackets J, secured to the channel F by bolt-sin, and is adjustable in saidbracketsto vary the position of the tubes 19. with relation to the tubes F by means of 'set screws/m, which screw into the pipe and may becaused'to bear against the upturned flanks of thebracket's.

Whereste'am is to be used to induce the air-currents, the pipe I isprovided at the rear end with a plug I but'where compressed air is to be used the rear end of the pipe r is put into communication with the pipe'I'through a coupling 1?. Y

As appears from Fig. ll, the'tubes F at one sideof thefurnace alternatewith those. at the opposite side'of the furnace. The efiect of this" is to intermingle thecurrentsin a furnace of moderate size and to avoid an impingingof one current upon another and the consequenteddying arising therefrom.

The pipes r extend out through the front K of' the furnace where they are joined toupturned couplings r and by a right and left handed" union i to a horizontally-disposed pipe L, which joinswith a supply-pipe L,

,Wh'lCh may extend to any source of com- "tally-disposed shaft is, jou'rnaled in suppressed air, none being here shown.

The pipes I project through the front of the fnrnaceand arejoined todown wardly-turned couplings 1 which are joined by right and left hand unions Z to a horizontally-disposed pipe Z, which communicates with the stean1- The front base portion B of the inclosing wall is supplied "above the grate-surface with:

furnace-openings N, guarded by furnacedoors N, and below the grate-surface with pit-openings-P, guarded by pit-doors p.

At the rear of the ash-pit D is a. horizonports is, rigidly-secureditothe vertical wall D: The shaftis provided at its ends with crank-.armsgk 'and at its center with an oper- H The air-passages E are guard ed byshutter. devices, each comprising'plates 7, hinged-at their tops, the topmost onebeing'provided" with a lug 2', having alater'ally projecting pin h, which moves in-a slot h in its adjacent crank-arm k The lower plates are pivotally joinedto the upper one by a link .g. (See Fig. 10.) The operating-handle k is pivotally joined to a connecting-rod f,.Fig. 1, which projects forward through thefront wall of the furnace. Secured to the lower part of the front inclosing wall is a bracket Q, on which is pivoted an operatinglever R, provided at one end with a handle 6, and having spring connection with a notched guide. e,' rigidly secured to the front wall.

The lever R is pivotally connected between R in one direction operates to close the chimney-damper and both of the air-supply dampers simultaneouslyv and a reverse movement operates to open them simultaneously. By adjustment of the union d the length of the rod 01 is changed to vary the position of the chimney-damper with relation to the shutterdampers, and thereby to vary theproportion of air passing upward through the grate.

'S is a baffie-plate suppliednear itslupper edge at'both ends with pivoted links 0, provided with notches c. The baffie-plate is further provided near its lower edge'with projecting pins'c The pins c rest in notches c of a bracket 0 which projects forward from the rear inclosing wall, while the notchesc are hooked over pins 0 which. project inwardly from the side walls. The baffle-plate is preferably set atsuch a'height as to bring its top edge just below the two upper rows offflues of a standard boiler. The adjustment may then be made by the notched-links just describedtill the gases passing. through the several flues show approxi'mately the same temperature.

The connection of'the flues with the chimney is not shown; but it will be understood that they communicate at their front ends directly with the breech T, which in turn communicates with the smoke-stack T. V

For convenience in cleaningthe furnace and'adjusting the baffle-plate the rear wall is providedwith a manhole V. v

Before describing the operation of my f urnace itis desirable to recall, briefly, the conditions under. which theoretically-perfect combustion may be obtained and toexplain the theory upon which I havevprocede'd in the construction of this furnace. The general statement may bemade that air in suiiicient quantity must be furnished to the burning. fueland intimately mingled therewith and that the fuel constituentsmust be maintained at a temperaturesufficiently high to permit chemical combination. The theory upon which my furnace is constructed is that sufficient air should .be furnished through the grate to combine with the greater portion of the carbon, the heat thereby generated serving to expel the hydrogen and volatile compounds from the fuel and that a sufficient quantity of air (properly distributed) should be furnished above the grate-surface to combine with any particles of carbon which may be torn from the fuel-body and also with the unconsumed gases which arise from the solid fuel... .I believe that carbonic oxid is formed in very small, if any, quantity, and that if any is formed the air necessary to convert it into carbon dioxid is furnished by the sideto-side draft above the grate-surface. The flame indicates the presence of the monoxid in appreciable quantity only at the moment of firing and while the furnace-door is open. This is the only period also when the products issuing from the chimney are visible. It is probable that the intense white flame which shows to a height of about six inches above the grate-furnace and does not, under proper conditions in any instance, pass the bridge-wall, is due to the burning hydrogen and to the momentarily incandescent particles of carbon which have been torn from the fuel-body and which are caught by the sideto-side currents passing above the grate-surface and at the moment of combustion are heated to incandescence. It is probably true that with the intense heat maintained in this furnace and where steam is used for forcing the air-currents the steam, although present in small quantity,'is decomposed by the hot carbon which combines with the oxygen, the freed hydrogen again uniting with oxygen of the air after it has moved away from the carbon, this being analogous to the manner in which carbon dioxid is decomposed by passing over heated carbon, and the product carbon monoxid again reunites with oxygen of the air under favorable conditions to form again the dioxid.

Where steam is to be used, the piper is left unconnected with the pipe I, the end of the pipe I being closed by means of the cap I. Steam is now admitted to the pipe I through the steam-valve NV. The pit-doors are left open and the lever R, connected with the chimney-damper and the air-passage shutterdampers in the manner described, is moved to the proper position to give the required draft. Steam issues from the minute openings (from one-fiftieth to one-eightieth of an inch in diameter) of the tubes 19 directly into the tubes F and induces currents through those tubes,drawing the air through the channels F, the chambers E E, and finally through the shutter devices and pit-doors.

Artisans skilled in the construction and op eration of these furnaces are able to so adjust the connections between the chimneydamper and the shutter devices as to furnish the proper amount of air through the grate and from the sides above the grate for any given fuel. They are able also to so adjust the pipe I with relation to the casting F as to secure with steam at a given pressure the maximum amount of draft with a minimum amount of steam. This is a very important feature for reasons above suggested.

Where com pressed air is to be used, the cap I is removed and the coupling I is used to join the pipes I and r. The steam-valve is closed and air is admitted through the pipe L, which is joined to a suitable source of supply. All the air admitted above the gratesurface is warmed by passing a part beneath the grate and then through the passage F and the remainder through the pipe and then through the pipe I. The side-to-side currents intermesh by reason of the location of the tubes (shown in Fig, 11) and form a sheet of-air which effectually entangles any unconsumed carbon or gas which may rise from the fuel-surface and supplies the air necessary to complete the combustion. The products of combustion pass a part through the perforated arch Hand thence backward over the bridge-wall and a part beneath the arch and then back over the bridge-Wall. The arch is of quite thick refractory material and besides protecting the boiler from the hottest part of the fire serves to absorb and give off heat during variations of temperature in the fire, thus serving as an equalizer to preserve the evenness of temperature. The peculiarly shaped passages afforded above the bridge-wall and rearWardly-slanting floor D serve to conduct the heated gases close to the boiler-surface. Such a construction is rendered possible by reason of the fact that combustion being completed before the ICC bridge-Wall is passed the large combustionchamber heretofore used in the rear of the bridge-wall may be dispensed with. The products pass from the last-named chamber backward and upward against the baffleplate S, which deflects a portion of the hot test gases into the lower lines. This is of the greatest importance, since it equalizes the work of the boiler-surface, and the water being evenly heated is changed to steam without the violent evolution so productive of saturated steam common to the old construction. The gases pass from the tines directly to the breech T and thence to the stack T.

It may be added that for any given fuel the open chimney area (regulated by the chimney-dain per) should bear a certain ratio to the air-passage areas (regulated by the shutterdampers) and that once this ratio is ascertained and the damper devices are connected properly, whether by changing the length of the rod (1 or in any other suitable manner, the connection remains fixed and the dampers are operated simultaneously in the manner described.

There remains yet to be described the manner in which the pipes I are removed for cleaning the twyers 19 should any of the minute openings become clogged. This operation is a very simpleone where, as in the most a ered by collars 1 secured to the pipes.v Itis;

linary case, steam is used for the blast. To permit removal of the pipes, the openings through which they pass at the front wall are slightly'enlargedrand provided with ofisets,

as described, and these enlargements are covnecessary, therefore, onlyto uncouplethe joints I and rock'the pipes to bring the tubes 19 to the vertical position, when they will slip by the brackets and out through the ofisetsJ,

The set-screws above mentioned are made so short as to pass readily through the opening ticular class of boilers and not to limit my-.

self in any particular thereby, exceptas'shall appear from the appended claims.

What I claimas new, and by Letters Patent, is i Y 1 In a furnace, the fire-chamber, the. grate,

desire to' secure and a chimney, combined with .a damper placed in the chimney, a rod connected thereto, a lever by means'of which the rod is oper-' ated, a rod connected to the leverand extending through the ash-pit, a suitable door or damper operated by the inner end of the rod, airpassages made in the walls of the firechamber, and openings through said walls through which the air passes, substantially as shown. I i I 2. In a furnace, the fire-chamber, suitable openings through its side for the introduction ofheated air, the grate, a chimney, a damper located in the chimney, a rod by means of which the damper is operated, and

a lever to which the rod is connected, and by which it is operated, combined with a rod connected to and operated by the lever and which rod extends into the ash-pit; a crank-lever connected tothe inner end of the rod, and provided with slotted ends, doors or dampers provided with projections and which are operated bysaid lever, and air-passages through grate, air-pipes leading from the front of the i furnace to the rear of the fire-chamber and incased in the side walls, air-pipes in said air-' channels provided with tubes registering with thelateral openings into said fire-chamber, a, connecting-pipe 1 ,1 oining each set of the pipes.

mentioned, a chimney throu gh which the gases escape, a damper for the chimney, and dampers for said air-channels, substantially as described.

4:.- In a furnace,the combination with a chimney, fire-chamber, and grate, of furnace-walls provided with an air-channel having openings into said fire-chamber above they grate-surface, and a compressed-fluid pipe in said airchannel provided with inwardly-projecting tubes registering with said openings, and means for supporting said pipe and adjusting its inwardly-projecting tubes with relation to the openings into thefire-chamber, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

5. In afurnace, a chimney, a fire-chamber,

.a grate therefor, the side walls provided with ing to the fire-chamber and pit, side walls provided with air-channels leading from the pit and having lateral openings into the fire-cham; ber above the grate-surface, compressed-fluid pipes supportedin said channels and provided with inwardlyprojecting tubes registering with said openings, dampers guarding said air-channels, and a lever pivotally joined to the front furnace-walland operatively connected with the chimney-damper and airchannel dampers for moving them simultaneously, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a boiler-furnace, the combination with a fire-chamber, grate therefor, a horizontallydisposed boiler-shellabove the fire-chamber, a passage beneath the boiler from the firechamber to the rear end of the shell, and an adjustable baffle-plate between the shell and rear inclosing wall for deflecting a portion of 3 the highly-heated gases into the lower flues, j substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

' 8. In a furnace, the side walls having chambers formed therein, channel-castings placed in the chambers and provided with suitable openings which extend through. into the furnace, and the brackets secured to the channel-castings, combined with pipes supported upon-the brackets, means for adjusting the pipes upon the brackets, and the collars secured to the pipesand closing the outer ends of the chambers, whereby the pipes are made removablefrom'the chamber,- substantially as shown and described.

JAMES PERRY YMOYULTON.

In presence of J. H. LEE,

R. T. SPENCER. 

